Kissing shield game and method of use thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a kissing shield game and method teaching safe affection to at least one person playing the kissing shield game. The kissing shield game includes a plurality of removable pegs, a playing surface, a gaming member, a plurality of frames and a plurality of thin, flexible membranes forming a kissing shield, and a resetable timer. The playing surface has a plurality of holes arranged in a predetermined pattern with each of the plurality of holes being capable of receiving at least one of the plurality of removable pegs. Each side of the gaming member has a different color associated therewith as well as a predetermined set of alphanumeric symbols associated therewith. The kissing shield is used when a selected person or object determined by a player is kissed so that the player learns safe affection and the proper use of the kissing shield through repetition.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/195,772, filedJul. 12, 2002, entitled “KISSING SHIELD GAME AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF”,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,799, which claims benefit under 37 CFR 119(e) ofU.S. Provisional No. 60/304,980, filed Jul. 12, 2001, entitled “KISSINGSHIELD GAME;” and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.09/466,004, filed Dec. 17, 1999, entitled “KISSING SHIELD AND METHOD OFUSE THEREOF,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,280, the contents of both arehereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a board game, and moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to a board game for teachinga person to practice safe affection utilizing a kissing shield andplaying pieces.

2. Description of Background of Invention

There is a growing awareness of the seriousness of diseases, likeAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), being spread and the need forprotection of those not exposed to such diseases. At times, there hasbeen hysteria among parents and other students, who are afraid theirchildren or they themselves will become infected from classroom andplayground contact, when students with AIDS or the HumanImmunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have attended school. Also, persons whocarry the herpes virus sometimes have lip sores which are usually notdistinguishable from an ordinary canker sore or a fever blister by a layperson.

It is customary when we kiss to come in contact with another's lips, andin certain cultures, to follow with a kiss on the skin of each cheek;thus germs can be passed from one person to another. In keeping with oneaspect of the invention, if casual contact is necessary and a kiss isappropriate, one can protect oneself from the germs present in saliva orother secretions which might be transmitted from kissing by using akissing shield.

The present invention proposes using a device in which a flexiblemembrane is used as a kissing shield to lessen one's chances of becominginfected by disease from casual contact. In the alternative, if a personis infected, the chances of transferring the infectious disease from oneperson to another could be reduced by use of a thin, resilient flexible,impervious membrane, preferably selected from the class of polyethylene,vinyl, and polypropylene materials, stretched over a frame or holder.This would lessen the spread of bodily fluids from one person to anotherwhen kissing with the end result of preventing the spread of viruses anddiseases, such as canker sores, fever blisters, and AIDS, until there isa cure and prevention of the diseases. The advantages of a kissingshield over regular kissing will become apparent on consideration of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings wherein there isdisclosed a preferred embodiment.

The kissing shield has both social and health benefits, if basicprecautions, such as those one would engage in while using a condom topractice “safe sex”, or as a dentist would use when he dons rubbergloves to prevent bodily fluids, such as blood and saliva from hispatient, from spreading to his hands and thereby infecting him, areused. The kissing shield can be economically mass produced so that itcould be easily disposed of after kissing a person and replaced with anew one.

The kissing shield is for people who desire to be cautious when incontact with another person as they kiss. Use of the kissing shield isconvenient and practical. However, like most items we use when we mustalter our habits, education is an important step. The kiss is one of thefirst forms of affection that we display to another. It seems onlynatural that we would start at a fundamental level and teach “safekissing” before we teach “safe sex”.

The kissing shield, if handled properly, will help people who want to dowhatever they can while kissing to practice “preventive medicine” andensure that disease is not passed from one person to another by propersanitation or cleanliness of one or both parties. A person who mighthave a disease and a person who does not want to get the disease or aperson who is being protected would take precautionary moves to helpprevent the spread of diseases, such as AIDS, by first practicing “safekissing”. A kissing shield is for casual kissing. It can be usedespecially by a politician who kisses babies.

It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a simple,inexpensive kissing shield to be used when kissing mouth-to-mouth ormouth-to-cheek thereby avoiding the necessity for skin contact with theperson to whom affection is intended. It is another object of theinvention to provide a means for removing the hesitancy a user may havein kissing another individual without sacrificing the effectiveness ofthe kiss. It is a further object of the invention to provide a means ofpreventing the transmission of germs or viruses from saliva or othersecretions and the transfer of lipstick or other cosmetics whenindividuals are engaged in kissing. It is another object of theinvention to provide a shield which does not need to be worn. It isanother object of the invention to provide a shield which is economicalin construction, such that the device can be used once and thereafterdisposed of.

In addition, board games have traditionally been used as a form ofrecreational activity. The typical board game has a playing surfacewhich provides the means on which the board game is played.Additionally, the board game is provided with accessories in the form ofinstruction cards, figures, dice, etc. The playing of the board game isdictated by a set of rules or instructions which refer to the movementof selected accessory parts around the playing surface. Board games aretraditionally played by more than one person either as a group ofindividuals or in teams of defined size and are enjoyed by some familiesand groups as a form of recreational activity.

However, board games do not solely function as an alternativerecreational activity. Many board games provide a teaching means toimprove a person's general knowledge and education. To this end, a needexists for a board game utilizing the kissing shield that teaches safeaffection. It is to such a board game that the present invention isdirected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a kissing shield game and methodfor teaching safe affection to at least one person playing the kissingshield game. The kissing shield game includes a plurality of removablepegs, a playing surface, a gaming member, a plurality of frames, aplurality of thin, flexible membranes, and a resetable timer.

The playing surface has a plurality of holes. Each of the plurality ofholes is capable of receiving at least one of the plurality of removablepegs which may be colored. The plurality of holes are arranged in apredetermined pattern. The gaming member has at least two sides. Each ofthe sides of the gaming member has a different color associatedtherewith as well as a predetermined set of alphanumeric symbolsassociated therewith. Each color associated with one of the sides of thegaming member is assigned a predetermined numerical value. In addition,at least one of the removable pegs is colored to correspond to at leastone of the colors on at least one of the sides of the gaming member.

The plurality of frames are so dimensioned as to outline the mouth of aperson. Each of the plurality of frames has a loop formed into a heartshape such that each lobe of the heart shape outlines a cheek area ofthe person. The nose of the person is positioned between the lobes ofthe heart shape, and the point of the heart shape extends to or belowthe chin of the person. The plurality of frames further have a handleextending therefrom and adapted for being gripped by a user to supportthe frame.

The plurality of thin, flexible membranes are carried by each of theplurality of frames and are impervious to microorganisms. Each of theplurality of thin, flexible membranes prevents exchange ofmicroorganisms between the person and an object while engaged in the actof kissing.

In addition, the kissing shield game includes a set of rules whichgovern the function of the kissing shield game and the order and actionsof a kissing shield game participant. A plurality of persons may bedivided into a plurality of teams for playing the kissing shield game.

In use, at least one of the thin, flexible membranes is placed over atleast one of the plurality of frames so as to form a kissing shield. Thegaming member is thrown along the playing surface so that one of thesides lands facing in an upward direction. A role playing adventure isdetermined within a predetermined time so as to teach safe affection inaccordance with the alphanumeric symbol associated with the side of thegaming member facing in an upward direction. A selected person or objectdetermined by the player is kissed with the kissing shield so that atleast one person playing the kissing shield game learns safe affectionand the proper use of the kissing shield through repetition. The end ofthe predetermined time is signaled by the resetable timer. A number isdetermined for sequential movement of at least one of the plurality ofremovable pegs in accordance with a predetermined number associated withthe color of the side of the gaming member facing in the upwarddirection. If a role playing adventure is determined, then at least oneof the removable pegs is moved in a forward direction along theplurality of holes arranged in the predetermined pattern in accordancewith the predetermined number associated with the color of the side ofthe gaming member facing in an upward direction. However, upon theperson playing the kissing shield game failing to determine the roleplaying adventure within a specified time, then at least one of theremovable pegs is moved in a backward direction along the plurality ofholes arranged in the predetermined pattern in accordance with thepredetermined number associated with the color of the side of the gamingmember facing in an upward direction. At least one of the removable pegslands in at least one of the plurality of holes in accordance with thepredetermined number associated with the color of the side of the gamingmember facing in an upward direction. A kissing shield game winningplayer is determined based upon the first person playing the kissingshield game to advance in a forward direction along the plurality ofholes in the predetermined pattern on the playing surface until theplurality of holes in the predetermined pattern ends.

The advantages and features of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art when the following description isread in conjunction with the attached drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front plan view of a kissing shield placed over the frameor holder and held in position by a user for use.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the kissing shield shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of an embodiment of the kissing shieldwherein the kissing shield has a protuberance for the tongue.

FIG. 4 shows a balloon shaped kissing shield having a center web withindicia to inform the user.

FIG. 5 shows a toy kissing shield.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a playing surface of a kissing shield game.

FIG. 7 shows a flat view of mulitple sides of a gaming member used inthe kissing shield game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersrepresent like elements, FIG. 1 shows a thin, flexible, imperviousmembrane 1 placed over a frame 2 and positioned in the appropriatelocation for use. Membrane 1 is closed on three sides; a fourth sideremains open so that the shield may be placed over frame 2. Membrane 1may be selected from the group of thin, flexible, impervious materials,such as polyethylene, vinyl, and polypropylene. Holder 2 is comprised ofa handle 3 and a crook 4. Crook 4 is cordate so that it can be placedunder the nose of the user while protecting the cheeks, lips, and chinof the user. Handle 3 extends laterally from crook 4 and is sized sothat when the user grasps the device, his hand will be located at adistance rom the membrane. It will be appreciated that membrane 1/frame2 can be sized to be employed by a variety of users. As shown in FIG. 2,crook 4 is adapted to surround the lower part of the face of the user.

FIG. 3 shows thin, flexible, impervious membrane 1 having a protuberance5 located near the uppermost portion of membrane 1. Protuberance 5creates a space 6 into which the tongue of a user may be placed for aparticular type of kissing.

FIG. 4 shows a balloon shaped embodiment of the present invention. Inthis particular embodiment, a membrane 8 is located within adonut-shaped, circular frame 7. As illustrated, a message could belocated within membrane 8 for the purpose of informing the user of theproper side of the device to place against his face, among other things.It would be desirable to have the message printed on the inside of aclear membrane so as to prevent the lips from kissing the printedmessage.

FIG. 5 shows a flexible, plastic sheet 9 suitable for use by a child.Sheet 9 is shaped to include a handle 10, a flexure 11 to cover thecheeks of the child, and a depression 12 suitable for placement underthe nose of the user. A message 13 is centered on sheet 9. Handle 10extends laterally from flexure 11 and is sized so that when the deviceis used, the hand of the user will be spaced apart from flexure 11.

A kissing shield game includes a plurality of removable pegs 15, aplaying surface 16, a gaming member 18, a plurality of frames 2 (FIGS.1-3), a plurality of thin, flexible membranes 1 (FIGS. 1-3), and aresetable timer 100.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the playing surface 16 has a plurality of holes20. Each of the plurality of holes 20 is capable of receiving at leastone of a plurality of removable pegs 15 which may be colored. Inaddition, each of the plurality of frames 2 may also be colored. Anycolor may be used for the plurality of removable pegs 15, however, thecolor of each of the plurality of removable pegs 15 will preferablycorrespond to the color of the frame 2. Examples of colors that may beused for the removable pegs 15 and the plurality of frames 2 in thekissing shield game consist of red, blue, green, yellow, magenta, andcyan.

The plurality of holes 20 are arranged in a predetermined pattern. Thepredetermined pattern is preferably in a row 22, as shown in FIG. 6.However, it should be understood that the pattern may be any of avariety of patterns, such as diagonals, waves, or circles and as suchshould not be regarded as limiting.

Shown in more detail in FIG. 7, the gaming member 18 has at least twosides. FIG. 7 shows the gaming member 18 having six sides, however, itshould be understood that the gaming member may have any number of sidesas long as there are at least two. Each of the sides of the gamingmember 18 has a different color associated therewith as well as apredetermined set of alphanumeric symbols 150 associated therewith. Anycolor may be used in the kissing shield game. Examples of preferredcolors include green, cyan, blue magenta, red, and yellow. Each colorassociated with one of the six sides of the gaming member 18 is assigneda predetermined numerical value. For example, green-6, cyan-5, blue-4,magenta-3, red-2, and yellow-1. The predetermined numbers determine howmany of the plurality of holes 20 the removable pegs 15 will be moved.In addition, each side of the gaming member 18 may have four or sixdifferent letters of the alphabet.

In use, the gaming member 18 is thrown by a player along the playingsurface 20 so that one of the sides lands facing in an upward direction.The player determines a role playing adventure according to the side ofthe gaming member 18 that faces upward. The role playing adventurecorresponds to one of the alphanumeric symbols 150 that are shown on theside of the gaming member 18 that is facing upward. For example, if theside of the gaming member 18 that is facing upward has a “c” showing,then the user must select a role playing adventure that begins with theletter “c”, e.g. kissing a cat. The player has a predetermined time todecide what sort of role-playing will be done so as to teach safeaffection. A selected person or object determined by the player iskissed with the kissing shield so that at least one person playing thekissing shield game learns safe affection and the proper use of thekissing shield through repetition. So, for example, the player rolls thegaming member 18 and the gaming member 18 lands with one of the sixsides facing upward that is green with the letters C, I, O and W. Theplayer then determines a person or object beginning with one of theletters to kiss with the kissing shield.

The end of the predetermined time is signaled by the resetable timer 100and a number is determined for sequential movement of at least one ofthe plurality of removable pegs 15 in accordance with a predeterminednumber associated with the color of the side of the gaming member 18facing in the upward direction. If the player is successful in andacting out the role playing adventure, then the player may move theremovable peg 15 in a forward direction along the plurality of holes 20arranged in the predetermined pattern in accordance with thepredetermined number associated with the color of the side of the gamingmember 18 facing in an upward direction. Thus, if the numerical valuesix was assigned to the color green, green being the side of the gamingmember 18 landing face up, then the player moves the removable peg 15six holes forward along the plurality of holes 20. However, if theplayer does not determine and act out the role playing adventure withinthe specified time, then at least one of the removable pegs 15(associated with the player) is moved in a backward direction along theplurality of holes 20 in accordance with the predetermined numberassociated with the color of the side of the gaming member 18 facing inan upward direction. So, the removable peg 15 will be moved six holesbackward according to the example given above if no role playingadventure is determined and acted out. At least one of the removablepegs 15 lands in at least one of the plurality of holes 20 in accordancewith the predetermined number associated with the color of the side ofthe gaming member 18 facing in an upward direction. A kissing shieldgame winning player is determined based upon the first person playingthe kissing shield game to advance his/her removable peg 15 in a forwarddirection along the plurality of holes 20 in the predetermined patternon the playing surface 16 until the plurality of holes 20 in thepredetermined patten ends.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and that other advantageous results are attained.As various changes could be made in the above product and method withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It should be noted that the foregoing drawings and accompanyingdescriptions are intended to be exemplary of several preferredembodiments of the invention and are not exhaustive of the possibilitiesof the types of shields within the intended scope of the invention. Itshould also be understood that modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art within the spirit of the invention. Suchmodifications could include using different color materials on each sideof the membrane or sheet to ensure that the user consistently originateshis kisses from the same side of the membrane. The frame or holder ontowhich the thin, flexible, impervious membrane is placed could be made ofa plastic material, such as nylon, so that it could be sanitized for useby different people. The frame or holder might also be made of a firm,yet flexible material which would allow the device to be adjusted orshaped by the user for individual faces. The membrane could also be madeof a plastic material which would be unaffected by products, such asfoundation, lipstick, petroleum jelly, and other cosmetics routinelyused by most women.

1. A kissing shield game, comprising: a plurality of removable pegs; aplaying surface having a plurality of holes, wherein each of theplurality of holes is capable of receiving at least one of the pluralityof removable pegs, the plurality of holes further being arranged in apredetermined pattern; a gaming member having at least two sides,wherein each of the sides of the gaming member has a different colorassociated therewith as well as a predetermined set of alphanumericsymbols associated therewith; a plurality of frames each of theplurality of frames so dimensioned as to substantially outline the mouthof a person, each of the plurality of frames having a loop formed into aheart shape substantially such that each lobe of the heart shapeoutlines a cheek area of the person, the nose of the person positionablebetween the lobes of the heart shape, and the point of the heart shapeextending to or below the chin of the person, each of the plurality offrames further having a handle extending therefrom and adapted for beinggripped by a user to support the frame; and a plurality of thin,flexible membranes carried by each of the plurality of frames andsubstantially impervious to microorganisms, each of the plurality ofthin, flexible membranes substantially preventing exchange ofmicroorganisms between the person and an object while engaged in the actof kissing.
 2. The kissing shield game of claim 1, wherein each colorassociated with one of the sides of the gaming member is assigned apredetermined numerical value.
 3. The kissing shield game of claim 1,further comprising a set of rules which govern the function of thekissing shield game and the order and actions of a kissing shield gameparticipant.
 4. The kissing shield game of claim 1, wherein a pluralityof persons may be divided into a plurality of teams for playing thekissing shield game.
 5. The kissing shield game of claim 1, wherein eachof the plurality of frames is colored and at least one of the pluralityof removable pegs is colored to correspond to the color of at least oneof the plurality of frames.
 6. A method for teaching safe affection toat least one person playing a kissing shield game, the method comprisingthe steps of: providing a kissing shield game, comprising; a pluralityof removable pegs; a playing surface having a plurality of holes,wherein each of the plurality of holes is capable of receiving at leastone of the plurality of removable pegs, the plurality of holes furtherbeing arranged in a predetermined pattern; a gaming member having atleast two sides, wherein each of the sides of the gaming member has adifferent color associated therewith as well as a predetermined set ofalphanumeric symbols associated therewith; a plurality of frames each ofthe plurality of frames so dimensioned to substantially outline themouth of a person, each of the plurality of frames having a loop formedinto a heart shape such that each lobe of the heart shape substantiallyoutlines a cheek area of the person, the nose of the person positionablebetween the lobes of the heart shape, and the point of the heart shapeextending to or below the chin of the person, the plurality of framesfurther having a handle extending therefrom and adapted for beinggripped by a user to support the frame; a plurality of thin, flexiblemembranes carried by each of the plurality of frames and impervious tomicroorganisms, each of the plurality of thin, flexible membranespreventing exchange of microorganisms between the person and an objectwhile engaged in the act of kissing; and a resetable timer; placing atleast one of the thin, flexible membranes over at least one of theplurality of frames so as to form a kissing shield; throwing the gamingmember along the playing surface so that one of the sides lands facingin an upward direction; determining a role playing adventure within apredetermined time so as to teach safe affection utilizing the kissingshield as a means to block contact between the person and an object inaccordance with the alphanumeric symbol associated with the side of thegaming member facing in an upward direction, the end of thepredetermined time being signaled by the resetable timer; determining anumber for sequential movement of at least one of the plurality ofremovable pegs in accordance with a predetermined number associated withthe color of the side of the gaming member facing in the upwarddirection; and landing in at least one of the plurality of holes inaccordance with the predetermined number associated with the color ofthe side of the gaming member facing in an upward direction.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, further including the step of moving at least one ofthe removable pegs in a forward direction along the plurality of holesarranged in the predetermined pattern in accordance with thepredetermined number associated with the color of the side of the gamingmember facing in an upward direction.
 8. The method of claim 6, furtherincluding the step of moving at least one of the removable pegs in abackward direction along the plurality of holes arranged in thepredetermined pattern in accordance with the predetermined numberassociated with the color of the side of the gaming member facing in anupward direction upon the person playing the kissing shield game failingto determine the role playing adventure within a specified time.
 9. Themethod of claim 6, further including the step of determining a kissingshield game winning player based upon the first person playing thekissing shield game to advance in a forward direction along theplurality of holes in the predetermined pattern on the playing surfaceuntil the plurality of holes in the predetermined patten ends.